VPLP Design
VPLP Design is a French naval architecture firm founded in 1983 that designs custom sailing and motor vessels—catamarans, trimarans, foiling multihulls, and superyachts—for shipyards, racing teams, and yacht owners worldwide. It operates across Racing, Yachting, and Maritime divisions with proprietary foil and wing-sail technologies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What VPLP Design does
VPLP Design is a privately held French naval architecture firm founded in 1983 by Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot Prévost, headquartered in Vannes with additional offices in Paris and Nantes. The firm designs and engineers custom sailing and motor vessels—catamarans, trimarans, foiling multihulls, superyachts, motor yachts, and commercial maritime vessels—operating across three transverse divisions: Racing, Yachting, and Maritime. Its proprietary technologies include the Oceanwings rigid wing sail system (validated over 68,000 nautical miles on Energy Observer), extensive foil and appendage design expertise, and proprietary CFD/simulation tools including the SYD design simulator.
VPLP generates revenue through bespoke design-fee contracts with shipyards, racing teams, and yacht owners, with each project individually quoted based on scope and complexity. Key anchor clients include Bénéteau Group's Lagoon brand (6,000+ catamarans built since 1987), Grand Large Yachting's Gunboat, CDK Technologies, Banque Populaire Racing Team, Luna Rossa, Energy Observer, and Ariane Group. The firm's go-to-market relies on direct enterprise relationships and a strong event presence anchored by the Monaco Yacht Show.
The business has completed over 100 projects in nearly four decades, accumulating an iconic track record that includes the 2010 America's Cup win (BMW Oracle), multiple Jules Verne Trophies, Vendée Globe victories, and the 121m Canopée ro-ro cargo vessel for Ariane rocket transport. The company remains under partner management—Marc Van Peteghem as Chairman, Simon Watin as Managing Partner, and partners Mathias Maurios, Xavier Guisnel, and Antoine Lauriot Prévost—with no external private-equity or strategic ownership identified.
VPLP Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- VPLP Design
- Legal name
- MARVIN SERIES (VPLP Design)
- Website
- https://vplp.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- VPLP Design is a French naval architecture firm founded in 1983 that designs custom sailing and motor vessels—catamarans, trimarans, foiling multihulls, and superyachts—for shipyards, racing teams, and yacht owners worldwide. It operates across Racing, Yachting, and Maritime divisions with proprietary foil and wing-sail technologies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
VPLP Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Naval Architecture and Marine Design Services
- NAICS
- Other Specialized Design Services (54149)
- SIC
- Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Concept & Feasibility Naval Architecture (Requirements, Trade Studies) (IMAJAGAA)
Keywords
Where VPLP Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
VPLP Design business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Naval Architecture Design Services: VPLP Design provides custom naval architecture and engineering design services for sail and powerboats. Revenue is generated through design fees for new boat projects, working with shipyards, sailing teams, and yacht owners across racing, cruising, and maritime segments.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
VPLP Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
VPLP Design is a naval architecture and engineering firm that provides custom design services for sailboats and motorboats across racing, cruising, and commercial maritime applications. The firm designs multihulls (catamarans, trimarans), monohulls, foils, and rigid wing sail systems such as Oceanwings, working directly with shipyards, sailing teams, superyacht owners, and commercial maritime clients worldwide. Revenue is earned through bespoke design fees for individual projects rather than standardized products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Canopée (121m rigid-wing ro-ro vessel) Commercial maritime design of a 121-meter rigid-wing ro-ro cargo vessel for Ariane Group, equipped with VPLP rigid wing sails to transport Ariane rocket components between mainland France and French Guiana.
- Hemisphere (44.20m sailing catamaran) Bespoke superyacht design of a 44.20-meter sailing catamaran with six cabins for 12 passengers and over 1,100 m² of downwind canvas, succeeding Douce France as world's largest cruising catamaran.
- GP70 / Catch Me (70-foot blue-water sailing catamaran) Custom design of a 70-foot blue-water sailing catamaran built in carbon fiber, weighing 22 tons and equipped for energy-independent fast ocean cruising.
- Gunboat Fusion 80 Design of the Gunboat Fusion 80 high-performance cruising catamaran for the Gunboat yard under the Grand Large Yachting group, with a flybridge added for accessibility.
- Lagoon Eighty 2 (flagship sailing catamaran) Flagship 24-meter sailing catamaran design for Lagoon/Bénéteau Group featuring flybridge, open deck plan, luxury finishes, and recognition as the 2025 Yacht Style Award winner in sailing catamarans over 18m.
- Lagoon Eighty 3 (luxury motor yacht) Projected design of the Lagoon Eighty 3 luxury motor yacht exceeding 24 meters with a flybridge, designed for long-range ocean cruising with 3,500 nautical mile autonomy.
- MODX 70 ocean-going motor yacht Design of an innovative ocean-going motor yacht with automated dual propulsion (100% electric or combined with Aeroforces retractable wind wings) built with partially biosourced resin, in collaboration with Océan Développement.
- Anahita (100-foot cruising trimaran) Design of the world's first and largest 100-foot cruising trimaran, in collaboration with Global Yacht Technologies (platform integration) and CDK Technologies (construction), with carbon foam infusion construction and central hull living spaces.
- Energy Observer 3 (EO3) research and expedition vessel Design of EO3, a 30-meter aluminum catamaran research and expedition vessel for Energy Observer's 2025-2033 'A Journey to Carbon Neutrality' mission, equipped with four Oceanwings wingsails, 140 m² of solar panels, and an ammonia-to-hydrogen fuel cell system.
- Racing Division design services Bespoke naval architecture and engineering for competitive sailing teams across ocean racing categories (Ultim trimarans, IMOCA 60s, Ocean Fifty, Figaro 3, America's Cup), with deep expertise in foils, appendages, and hydrodynamic optimization for racing performance.
- Yachting Division design services Custom and series naval architecture for cruising catamarans (Lagoon, Gunboat, GP70), superyachts (Hemisphere, Douce France), motor yachts, flybridge sailboats, and blue-water voyaging vessels, balancing comfort, performance, and livability.
- Maritime Division design services Design of commercial vessels including rigid-wing ro-ro cargo ships (Canopée for Ariane Group), expedition research vessels (Energy Observer EO3), fishing vessels, and innovative wind-assisted cargo transport solutions focused on decarbonization.
- Special Projects design services Bespoke, exploratory naval architecture work for unusual vessels, one-off concepts, and collaborative designs that fall outside the Racing, Yachting, and Maritime divisions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 6,000 Lagoon catamarans built since 1987
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use VPLP Design
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
VPLP Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
VPLP Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- Micheletti + PartnersmajorItalian design firm collaborating with VPLP Design on a secret very large yacht concept (described as 'the largest ever drawn by VPLP') and a 45-foot motor tender (catamaran) dedicated to superyachts.
- Global Yacht TechnologiesmajorGlobal Yacht Technologies partnered with VPLP Design on Anahita, the world's first and largest 100-foot cruising trimaran. VPLP provides naval architecture and structural design while Global Yacht Technologies handles platform integration and systems.
- Xplorer YachtingcorePartner in the MG project, the world's first wind-assisted expedition yacht. VPLP provides design expertise for the wind-assisted propulsion system.
- Norse ShipyardcoreConstruction partner for the MG project, the world's first wind-assisted expedition yacht. Norse Shipyard is building the vessel in collaboration with VPLP's design.
- Grand Large YachtingmajorVPLP Design works with Grand Large Yachting on the Gunboat Fusion range of high-performance cruising catamarans (Fusion 80 being showcased at Monaco Yacht Show).
- CDK TechnologiescoreCDK Technologies is building the Anahita trimaran at their new production facility inaugurated in 2025 in Lorient. Long-standing construction partner for VPLP designs including racing trimarans.
- Félix GodardminorAutomotive designer Félix Godard is collaborating with VPLP Design on the EO3 research vessel project, contributing design expertise for the superstructures and overall aesthetic.
- Luna Rossa (America's Cup Team)coreVPLP engineer Adrien Letourneur was seconded for three years (2021-2024) as lead appendage designer for Luna Rossa's AC75 foils. Knowledge sharing and expertise exchange on foil design.
- F-OneminorF-One provides wing foil equipment to VPLP Design in exchange for CFD calculations on foils. Exchange of expertise benefiting both parties - VPLP gains equipment for team testing while F-One receives computational analysis.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
VPLP Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Philippe Briand Yacht Design: French-based yacht designer known for cruising yachts and superyachts including Jeanneau and Beneteau production designs. Comparable to VPLP for production cruising catamarans and monohulls within the Bénéteau ecosystem.
- Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design: US-based performance yacht design firm specializing in racing sailboats and high-performance cruising yachts. Directly comparable to VPLP's Racing division and America's Cup pedigree.
- Winch Design: UK-based multidisciplinary design house covering exterior, interior, and naval architecture for superyachts. Comparable to VPLP's superyacht practice, though with stronger interior design weighting.
- Botin Partners: Spanish naval architecture firm focused on racing yachts (IMOCA, Volvo Ocean Race, Maxi classes) and performance cruising. Comparable to VPLP as a leading independent racing-yacht design practice.
- Olesinski Design: UK-based superyacht design studio handling exterior styling, naval architecture, and engineering. Comparable to VPLP's integrated superyacht design offering for the HNW market.
- Dubois Naval Architects: British superyacht design firm with a long track record in custom sailing and motor yachts. Closely comparable to VPLP in serving the premium one-off superyacht market with high-end naval architecture services.
- Humphreys Yacht Design: UK-based independent yacht design firm specializing in sailing yacht and superyacht naval architecture. Comparable to VPLP as a boutique multidisciplinary design house serving HNW owners and shipyards across racing and cruising segments.
- Dykstra Naval Architects: Dutch naval architecture firm specializing in classic and modern superyachts, including J-Class designs. Comparable to VPLP for high-end one-off yacht naval architecture.
- Farr Yacht Design: US-based yacht design firm with deep experience in racing (America's Cup, Volvo, TP52) and production cruiser-racers. Comparable to VPLP across both racing and serial-production design work.
Emerging players
- Gilles Vaton Design: Independent French naval architect specializing in racing multihulls and IMOCA designs. Comparable to VPLP's racing design practice with a similar French-base and multihull focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
VPLP Design social profiles
Digital presenceVPLP Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
VPLP Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
VPLP Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
VPLP Design M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about VPLP Design
What does VPLP Design do?
VPLP Design is a naval architecture and engineering firm that provides custom design services for sailboats and motorboats across racing, cruising, and commercial maritime applications. The firm designs multihulls (catamarans, trimarans), monohulls, foils, and rigid wing sail systems such as Oceanwings, working directly with shipyards, sailing teams, superyacht owners, and commercial maritime clients worldwide. Revenue is earned through bespoke design fees for individual projects rather than standardized products.
Is VPLP Design a public or private company?
VPLP Design is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was VPLP Design founded?
VPLP Design was founded in 1983. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is VPLP Design based?
VPLP Design is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does VPLP Design make money?
One revenue line is on record: naval Architecture Design Services.
Who are VPLP Design's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Philippe Briand Yacht Design, Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design, Winch Design, Botin Partners, Olesinski Design, Dubois Naval Architects, Humphreys Yacht Design, Dykstra Naval Architects and Farr Yacht Design. Gilles Vaton Design is listed as an emerging player.
Does VPLP Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for VPLP Design.
What industry is VPLP Design in?
VPLP Design's product category is Naval Architecture and Marine Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJAGAA, Concept & Feasibility Naval Architecture (Requirements, Trade Studies). Its NAICS code is 54149 and its SIC code is 3730.